Infinite loop in TFLite
Medium5.5CVE-2021-37686 · Published Aug 25, 2021 · updated Jul 8, 2026
### Impact The strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for [ellipsis in axis definition](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/149562d49faa709ea80df1d99fc41d005b81082a/tensorflow/lite/kernels/strided_slice.cc#L103-L122): ```cc for (int i = 0; i < effective_dims;) { if ((1 << i) & op_context->params->ellipsis_mask) { // ... int ellipsis_end_idx = std::min(i + 1 + num_add_axis + op_context->input_dims - begin_count, effective_dims); // ... for (; i < ellipsis_end_idx; ++i) { // ... } continue; } // ... ++i; } ``` An attacker can craft a model such that `ellipsis_end_idx` is smaller than `i` (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase `i` and the `continue` statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695). The fix will b...
Affected versions
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| tensorflow PyPI | >= 2.6.0rc0, < 2.6.0rc2 | 2.6.0rc2 |
Details and references
### Impact The strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for [ellipsis in axis definition](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/149562d49faa709ea80df1d99fc41d005b81082a/tensorflow/lite/kernels/strided_slice.cc#L103-L122): ```cc for (int i = 0; i < effective_dims;) { if ((1 << i) & op_context->params->ellipsis_mask) { // ... int ellipsis_end_idx = std::min(i + 1 + num_add_axis + op_context->input_dims - begin_count, effective_dims); // ... for (; i < ellipsis_end_idx; ++i) { // ... } continue; } // ... ++i; } ``` An attacker can craft a model such that `ellipsis_end_idx` is smaller than `i` (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase `i` and the `continue` statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.6.0. This is the only affected version. ### For more information Please consult [our security guide](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/master/SECURITY.md) for more information regarding the security model and how to contact us with issues and questions. ### Attribution This vulnerability has been reported by members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.
- CVSS 3.1
- CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- Severity from
- GitHub (reviewed advisory)
- Weakness
- CWE-835
- Also known as
- BIT-tensorflow-2021-37686, CVE-2021-37686, PYSEC-2021-308, PYSEC-2021-599, PYSEC-2021-797
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37686
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-599.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-797.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-308.yaml
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.3.4
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.4.3
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.5.1
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.6.0
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